resentment
Living With A Sense Of Childlike Wonder
We can be quick to settle into ruts. The day-to-day routines of school, work and family often become repetitive and, dare I say… monotonous at times.
During these mundane periods of discontent, people often focus on themselves, and their lack.
They will complain about being overworked and underpaid. Whether professionally or personally, they often feel under-appreciated and under-acknowledged. Stress and resentment can start to build.
In order to alleviate stress, you already know that there are many options from which to choose. Whether people get into a daily habit of deep breathing, visualization, meditation or various forms of exercise, the body becomes transformed and stress is dissipated for the time being.
Rather than just staving off bubbling-under-the-surface irritation and potential health issues, we recommend taking things a step further.
Most people have heard the phrase, “Stop and smell the flowers!” Well, whether you prefer to cultivate the soil or be an observer, it is vitally important to redevelop a new sense of wonder in the garden of your life.
Make a little time for a detour now and then. Take note of your surroundings. Investigate, photograph, research some of the little things you take for granted in life.
Stop and take notice of everyday things in nature that you have been passing by for years. Even in the concrete jungles of cities, nature abounds if you slow down and take the time to look.
Set Your Soul Free With The Power Of Forgiveness
I remember watching The Greatest Story Ever Told with my mum and dad when I was a little girl, way back in 1965. The film is a classic biblical epic that dramatizes the life of Jesus of Nazareth from the Nativity through to the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
For me, the most harrowing scenes were those of Jesus on the cross, praying and asking God to forgive his executioners because “they know not what they do.” As he was mocked and tortured, enduring unimaginable pain, he made this simple, yet extraordinary request.
I remember wondering: how can someone even begin to find forgiveness at such a moment? And why would Jesus want to forgive those cruel torturers at all?
For Jesus, dying was not only about salvation; it was also about demonstrating unconditional love for humanity…even for those who condemned him.
He was embodying the very teaching he had shared so many times: to love one’s enemies. His plea for mercy on behalf of his executioners remains one of the most profound examples of that teaching in action.
In this way, Jesus stands as the ultimate role model for forgiveness, tolerance and unconditional love, even in the darkest hour.
But how can we possibly follow such an example in our everyday lives? And what are the true benefits of doing so?
Give Yourself The Grace Of Forgiveness
If you are an empath you may believe that forgiveness should be easy for you, or at least easier than it is for others. But I’ve spoken to many empaths and highly sensitive people over the years who all struggle with forgiveness.
One of the main issues with forgiveness for the empath is that we feel another’s emotions intensely, literally as our own. This muddies the waters considerably, because it tends to blur boundaries. Blurred boundaries can often lead to a closed mouth for an empath. Why? Because it is difficult for us, especially in childhood or in romantic relationships, to know where we end and another begins.
It is easy for others to manipulate appropriate boundaries with an empath, or to erase them altogether. All the empath knows is that there is pain, sadness, a sense of frustration, or anger. If you are an empath, then the question becomes are you angry with them, or yourself? Should you have been able to foresee the catastrophe happening, the relationship ending, job imploding, and so on. This leads to self-doubt and the rehashing of incidents that occurred years ago…with no resolution.
In the meantime, every time an empath thinks about the situation, past or present, we feel it…and the cycle continues.
Yes, you are empathic, intuitive, even psychic, but that does not make you immune to being human, neither does it make you all-knowing or all-seeing, especially when it comes to your own life, childhood or relationships.
The Empowered Empath’s Guide To Spiritual Self-Care
Empaths, sensitives and intuitives tend to be givers. Loyal, sometimes to a fault, and fiercely protective of those they care about… moving at lightning speed whenever called upon.
So, when I say to an empath that it may be time to put themselves first, the response is often mixed.
But, if putting yourself first seems too selfish or too difficult, try something simpler: at least put yourself on an equal footing with those you love and care for.
For many sensitive and highly intuitive people, self-care must be an acquired behavior… and it’s a big one. Empaths intend to be selfless, to help, heal and facilitate those they care about. Wonderful!
But remember, if this is your goal, then begin with yourself. The stronger, healthier and happier you are then the more effective, nurturing and supportive you can be to those around you.
Putting yourself first doesn’t mean that you are doing only what you want to do all the time, and it doesn’t mean that you are suddenly going to ignore those you care about.
What it does mean is making it a priority to take care of your own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. This can be a tall order and quite the task for some empaths. Don’t wait until you are in a meltdown… frustrated and snapping at everything and everyone around you, with little or no provocation.
Learning To Say Yes To Yourself
It is in the empath’s nature to say ‘yes’ to just about anything requested of them. It goes against our grain. For some of us, saying ‘no’ also brings on fears of rejection, abandonment or letting someone down when it may be important to support them.
Rather than finding an excuse, or simply telling the truth, many of us give in and just go along. It just feels easier in the moment, and even validating or satisfying.
But when you end that phone call, or respond to another text, and you feel anxious and panicked, while you start going over all the other things that will have to fall to the wayside by saying yes, then you really are saying no to yourself.
Self-care requires that we sometimes say no to others, in order to say yes to our own well-being and peace of mind. Consequently, the person that you said yes to won’t be getting the best of you. If you have said yes at your own expense, then what you bring to the table for that person is stress and anxiety. Your best self will not be fully present.
Saying yes, when you really want to say no, can also lead to resentment that you then attach to the person who asked for your assistance.
Here the responsibility lies with ourselves. We teach people how to treat us and many times we don’t give others enough credit for understanding when we say no. Most people would rather hear. “No thanks, that time doesn’t work for me” or “I have other commitments,” instead of having to sense a half-hearted or less than enthusiastic yes.
Anger Blocks Intuition, Joy Clears The Way
For years, I carried a weight I didn’t fully understand. It wasn’t physical, and it wasn’t easily named. It was more like a festering storm tucked away inside me, a simmering anger that lingered in the corners of my being.
I thought I had mastered the art of containing it. I could smile, be reasonable, even offer calm advice to others.
But deep down, I felt its subtle pull, like an ominous undertow. It twisted the flow of my intuition, muffled the inner voice I used to trust, and dimmed the vibrant colors of a magical world around me.
Anger, I came to realize, is not always loud or aggressive. Sometimes, it is silent and slow-moving, like a heavy fog that sneaks in while you are not looking.
It dulls the senses. It compresses the heart. And perhaps most insidiously, it clogs the channel between you and your inner knowing. The kind of knowing that does not need explanation, just a quiet space to rise and speak.
For the longest time, I kept reaching for inner clarity. I meditated, I journaled, I pulled cards and sat in silence, hoping for something to break through.
But the insights felt fuzzy, the messages confusing. It was as if someone had turned the volume down on my inner voice, and I couldn’t figure out how to turn it back up.
From Resentment To Radiance: The Power Of Forgiveness
As a Kundalini yoga instructor, I’ve come to understand forgiveness as much more than just an act of kindness or compassion. It is a sacred healing practice — an essential release and transmutation of toxic energy held within the subtle body.
My work as a Reiki healer and psychic reader has deepened my understanding of this concept. I’ve witnessed firsthand how unresolved emotional pain, bitterness and resentment can create stagnation in our energetic pathways, dimming our vitality and obstructing our intuitive abilities.
In both healing sessions and psychic readings, I’ve seen forgiveness spark remarkable shifts in people’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
In the Kundalini Yoga tradition, forgiveness is not merely a moral ideal. It is a profound energetic cleanse. When we cling to resentment, anger, or betrayal, we create dense energy imprints, or emotional residue, in our aura and chakras, especially around the heart center (Anahata). These blockages disrupt pranic flow, dull intuitive perception, and limit our capacity to experience divine love.
My yoga teacher, Yogi Bhajan, often reminded us that the fastest route to healing and happiness is to forgive completely and limitlessly. He taught that true forgiveness requires releasing the subconscious “recordings” and emotional patterns etched into both hemispheres of the brain — patterns that replay pain and perpetuate karmic loops. “Forgive, release, learn, love, and excel,” he would say. Continue reading